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A student broke a outdoor thermometer (approximtately 6" in length) containting approximately a tablespoon of mercury at his home. The student collected the mercury in a syrup bottle and brought it to school. The student spilled the mercury at Clinton High School. NC Haz-Mat responded and collected visible mercury with a mercury vac. Parents were notified to collect clothing from students that may have come into contact with the mercury and advised to place the clothing of the students in bags and place outside. The HVAC system was shut down and windows were opened for ventilation. The school was closed. NC Dept. of Health requested assistance from EPA to perform air monitoring with Lumex to confirm that levels are safe for school to be reopened. The location of the High School is 1201 W Elizabeth St Clinton NC.
EPA and NC Dept of Public Health conducted the air monitoring and levels indicated that the school could be re-opened. Levels were below the 1 microgram per cubic meter clean up goal.
NC Dept of Public Health contacted OSC Rhame to advise that the collected mercury will be disposed of through a grant that is used to clean and dispose of school lab chemicals. The school will also go through a inspection of their laboratory and other chemicals will be addressed at the same time.
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